Harvard learns management lessons from India Inc.
In this issue:
» India Inc will have to postpone its expansion?
» Is India on the brink of a grain storage crisis?
» Karnataka crowned India's 2nd preferred investment destination
» The biggest risk to global recovery
» ...and more!
------- FREE Newsletter -------Straight from the Hip - A Weekly E-Letter
"This weekly stock market column written by me has run for over 19 years on various platforms. I invite you to subscribe today for a fresh and thought-provoking perspective." - J Mulraj
Available exclusively to readers of Equitymaster. Sign-up Now! It's Free!
---------------------------------------
00:00 | ![]() | |
As reported by a leading daily, nearly 120 plus Harvard case studies from South-Asia are India centric. Reasons for this are several. The phenomenal economic growth rates spanning two decades. The growth of a significant middle-class. And most importantly, the increased presence of global firms in India and vice versa. Therefore, it is little wonder that the world's most prestigious management schools are lining up to draw lessons from the various success stories. Professors are using these lessons to fill in the specific needs in their course syllabus.
But this is not just one way traffic. Indian companies too are benefitting from becoming case studies in such universities. These universities typically take in some of the best minds in the world as students. These students come up with innovative approaches and solutions to some of the problems that the companies are currently facing. For example, Eureka Forbes, an Indian water filtration device manufacturer, drew an important learning on how to lower the cost of its water filters. Many companies, including the likes of TCS have drawn on these learnings to improve their business processes further. Becoming a case study also helps them in garnering international exposure which is essential for companies aspiring to be significant global players.
The truth is that India Inc has taken on the challenge of operating in India and expanding outside of its boundaries in its own unique way. And the world has now realized this fact and is taking notes.
Do you think Indian companies would benefit if they become case studies for business schools like the Harvard Business School? Share your comments with us or post your views on our Facebook page.
01:15 | Chart of the day | |
![]() |
01:45 | ![]() | |
02:25 | ![]() | |
03:00 | ![]() | |
03:35 | ![]() | |
04:05 | ![]() | |
04:40 | ![]() | |
04:55 | Today's investing mantra |
Today's Premium Edition.
Recent Articles
- All Good Things Come to an End... April 8, 2020
- Why your favourite e-letter won't reach you every week day.
- A Safe Stock to Lockdown Now April 2, 2020
- The market crashc has made strong, established brands attractive. Here's a stock to make the most of this opportunity...
- One Stock that is All Charged Up for the Post Coronavirus Rebound April 1, 2020
- A stock with strong moat is currently trading near 5-year lows.
- Sorry Warren Buffett, I'm Following This Man Instead of You in 2020 March 30, 2020
- This man warned of an impending market correction while everyone else was celebrating the renewed optimism in early 2020...
Equitymaster requests your view! Post a comment on "Harvard learns management lessons from India Inc.". Click here!
9 Responses to "Harvard learns management lessons from India Inc."
N.P.Unni
Jun 17, 2011There is no belittling of the achievement of some indian companies But was amused to read the chest thumping statement "120 cases from south Asia is India centric" !!!!! what else could have been there from South Asia, the other options were Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Srilankan????. Barring a few exceptions,( exceptions prove the rule) we have a long way to go. There is something frog in the well mentality about Indian elites. A feeling that the world cannot do without India and we are the best in the world which we are not . so we desparately try to convince ourselves by latching on to such stories which in themselves do not prove anything other than the fact that a country of 1.2 Billion people also providing a reasonable number of students and faculty to HBS provide a few cases studies in preference to that of Pak, Bangla or lankan companies. The mentality of continousing seeking evidence of foreign endorsement for our ahievements smacks of lack of faith in ourselves.
sethu
Jun 17, 2011To some extent yes..the benefit mainly comes from the fact that indian companies allow these professors to write cases ,indicate that they are becoming some what transparent and share their situation.but still most indian companies invite Harvard just for prestige ,not tranparent and do not learm nuch.OF course harvard and students benefit more from this directly rather than indian industry .indianindustry benefits indirectly to some extent.IIMA would be more relevant for indian industry in this aspect.
bhal patankar
Jun 17, 2011Any serious management student, whether individual or Corporate or Educational institute finds that every Country has its own Culture, Style, response method that makes it unique in understanding the progress. In fact,in my 45yrs association with many business houses(Local or MNCs)we came to one conclusion that we have to keep ourselves alert for analysing with clinical precision and never underestimate the illiterate [otherwise why Tatas could not anticipate the people reaction in Nadigram!]
The Western philosophy has to be translate to Indian ethoes and it is sincerity of Harward to study Indian cases. regards institute of strategic mgt., 9323803106
Subrata
Jun 17, 2011India is generating more Hoopla than anything to say about. Everything is in future tense......china and india, both are emerging...do we have anything to compare about....China has Fastest train, biggest Hydel power station, longest wall, longest road, tallest buildings, fast growing cities.....India has biggest scam, corrupted leaders, unethical industrialists......Indian PM fears inclusion of PM in Lokpal Bill...not because oh himself (he is no doubt clean) but to keep road clean in case someday RahulG becomes PM...no political party supports anti-corruption bill (reasons are obvious)...still leaders are thinking foreign investors will invest India so that politicians & unethical industrialists can pocket those money....a limited few ethical industrialists of India are questioned by politicians about their activities.....no doubt Harvard discussing about India.....
Stithapragnja
Jun 17, 2011Eq.Master Team,
After going through your ARTICLE " Harvard Learns Management Lessons from INDIA Inc." I am prompted to cite a very relevant cover page from a magazine which has been etched in my mind and reproduced hereunder :
The cover page has two elderly genetlemen sitting in a park bench. One of them is shown as reading a book avidly. The other genetleman asks him "Sir, what are you reading so intently ??" To which the first genetleman replies " Sir this is the "BHAGAVAD GITA"
sent by my son from AMERICA !!!What an uncannily apt analogy to the TOPIC UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE ARTICLE!!
Further it is not who says that is important but what is SAID IS MORE IMPORTANT !!
I hasten to conclude with another profound INDIAN thought from times Immemorial ""AANO BHADRAAH KRATAVOH YENTU VISHWATAH ! (Let noble/profound thoughts/concepts come from all directions/corners of the world ""
No wonder in the Case studies of HBS India-centric ones figure promiently as highlighted in your article!!
AML
Jun 17, 2011Sir,
Top level professors of IIM Ahmadabad recently came out with suggetion that insted of revising MSP for food grains to farmers Govt. should provide seeds & agri equipment at concessonal price.Our India is proud of IIM Abad which is equivallent to HARWARD. Problem remains with Central Govt & beurocrats who are always busy in their own interest. They have no time to spare to listen the good advises by experts. Policies drawn are temporary & not for long term thinking. Why India is now in state of diguis despite having Dr. Manmohansing -PM & Chidambaram (Harward graduates) at the helm of affairs ?
Pronob Chatterji
Jun 17, 2011Yes Indian companies will benefit from being included as case studies at harvard business School. They are being indirectly projected as companies with exceptional managment examples with with high growth by a world renowned organization . The students who are would be world managers of top international class will get to know about these companies and view them in a positive way.
Pradeep
Jun 17, 2011We have no idea as to how these India-centric stories are being projected. Probably, the world knows about "Jugaad" of Indian businessmen. We heard about the interest in "Dabbawalas", "Jaipur Foot", "Indian Railways" kind of stories. But, these success stories are not resulting in rewriting of the management books in US or in India. So, its impact is limited.
R.Varadarajan
Jun 20, 2011Enhances brand value / creates international awareness about products / unique strengths.this might generate interest for JVs / marketing alliances and interest students / others in preferring the company as their future employer!